Jewish Majorca

09/06/2026

Did you know the medieval Catalan word for a Jewish Quarter was “Call”?

You can still find streets called Carrer del Call in places like Palma, Barcelona, Girona, and other historic Jewish neighborhoods across the former Crown of Aragon.

But where does the word come from?

Some scholars believe it derives from the Latin word callis, meaning a narrow street or passageway.

Others have suggested a possible connection to the Hebrew words kahal or kehila, meaning community or congregation.

While the Latin origin is generally considered the most likely, the debate itself is fascinating because it reminds us how deeply intertwined Jewish and local history became over the centuries.

And there’s an important distinction:

Kahal often refers to the organized communal body or congregation.

Kehila generally refers to the broader Jewish community itself.

Either way, every time I walk down a street named “Call,” I’m reminded that these weren’t just neighborhoods.

They were living communities filled with families, businesses, synagogues, schools, traditions, and stories.

How many people walk these streets every day without realizing the history hidden in the name?

Comment MALLORCA and I’ll send you my FREE guide to Jewish sites most visitors miss.

08/06/2026

Some photos from last week’s walk and talk experiences around the CALL (Catalan for JEWISH QUARTER) of Palma on the island of Mallorca! Share with someone going to visit this summer!

08/06/2026

If you like what you are learning comment MALLORCA and I’ll send you my free guide!

07/06/2026

Most people walk down this street without realizing they’re standing in the heart of Mallorca’s former Jewish Quarter.

This is Carrer del Call.

And the name itself tells the story.

“Call” was the medieval Catalan word used for a Jewish Quarter.

In other words, this street is literally called “Street of the Jewish Quarter.”

What surprises me is how many visitors walk through here and never hear that story.

In fact, very few guides stop to explain why this street is named what it is, who lived here, and how this neighborhood once formed the center of Jewish life in medieval Palma.

For centuries, Jewish families lived, worked, studied, and built community in these streets.

Today, the buildings have changed.

The people have changed.

But sometimes the clues remain hidden in plain sight.

A street name.

A doorway.

A story waiting to be told.

Have you ever visited a place and later discovered that the name itself was hiding a piece of history?

05/06/2026

Everyone always thinks 1492 was the terrible year for the Jews of Spain but actually the worst was 100 years earlier in the summer of 1391 when the pogroms took place all throughout Spain including in Majorca!

04/06/2026

In 1391, Jewish communities across Spain suffered devastating attacks.

But the roots of the violence go back even earlier.

During the Black Death, Jews were often accused of causing the plague and became convenient scapegoats for a terrified society looking for someone to blame.

The irony?

Many Jewish communities followed practices that may have helped reduce the spread of disease: regular handwashing, ritual baths, dietary laws, and burying the dead outside city centers.

Meanwhile, medieval cities of all kinds were crowded, unsanitary places where disease spread rapidly.

Did these Jewish practices make a difference?

Some historians think they may have in certain cases.

Others argue the picture is far more complicated.

What is clear is that fear, misinformation, and prejudice often proved just as dangerous as the disease itself.

What do you think?

Were Jews targeted because they were different, because they were perceived as doing better during the plague, or because societies under stress often look for someone to blame?

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

What does it mean to rediscover a Jewish identity that was hidden for generations?

Join me for a special online screening of Xueta Island, followed by a live Q&A where I’ll share the story behind the film, the making of the documentary, and the remarkable journey of Mallorca’s Xueta community. Grateful for the collaboration on the project with incredible filmmakers and

When I first arrived in Mallorca in 2014, I had no idea that a hidden Jewish story would change the course of my life. That journey eventually became Xueta Island.

I’d love for you to watch the film and join the conversation.

🎬 Online Screening + Live Q&A
📅 June 11, 2026

Registration link in bio or here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/xueta-island-film-screening-qa-with-filmmaker-tickets-1989345346483

Feel free to share with anyone interested in Jewish history, identity, Spain, or stories of resilience.

02/06/2026

In Seville, I stood with Dr. David Mendelsson before a powerful monument—a city’s gesture of reconciliation with its Jewish past. The plaque, with words from Elie Wiesel, reminds us to acknowledge history with both honesty and hope. In light of recent events in Barcelona, it’s a poignant reminder that healing comes from both confronting darkness and choosing to build understanding. Let’s keep shining light and fostering connection.